Many people think that varicose veins in the lower extremities are just an aesthetic problem. In fact, varicose veins in the lower extremities contain a range of symptoms that change and progress over time. Initially, patients may feel only soreness and discomfort in their legs, and only after a while do the varicose vein clusters in the legs appear. After a further period of time, the nutritional condition of the skin of the lower legs is affected, with itching, hyperpigmentation and even unhealing ulcers. The main goal of treatment for varicose veins in the lower extremities is to improve symptoms and appearance, and the main treatments include medication, compression therapy, and surgery. Of these, surgery is the method that has the least recurrence rate after treatment. Currently, the main surgical procedures for varicose veins in the lower extremities include the following: saphenous vein ligation and stripping, endovenous laser ablation, and foam sclerotherapy. High ligation stripping: The saphenous vein is separated and ligated through a roughly 2-3 cm incision where it joins the deep vein, and then the saphenous vein trunk is completely stripped from the body through a vein stripper. High ligation and stripping is the most classic procedure for treating saphenous varicose veins, and because the saphenous vein trunk is completely removed, the chance of recurrence after surgery is minimal and the treatment is most complete. However, there is an incision on the body surface and the vein stripping process is traumatic to the surrounding tissues, and there may be discomfort in the short-term postoperative period. However, with improvements in surgical techniques and strippers, this traditional open procedure is also increasingly achieving minimally invasive results with smaller incisions, faster recovery, and gradually decreasing postoperative discomfort. Endovenous laser ablation: This is a minimally invasive procedure that burns the varicose veins from the lumen through the thermal effect. No skin incision is required, and it is done through a percutaneous puncture. Through the puncture site, a catheter that emits laser light is delivered into the target vein, and the tip of the catheter releases heat in the lumen of the vein, allowing the lumen to close. A swelling anesthetic solution needs to be injected around the cauterized vein to avoid heat damage to the surrounding soft tissues. Laser ablation can be used for the main trunk of the saphenous vein and its branches. Since the laser catheter emits heat only at a point at the cephalic end, unskilled operation may result in discontinuous cauterization of the venous segment and incomplete treatment, causing recurrent venous thrombosis and episodes of thrombotic superficial phlebitis in distantly recurring or incompletely closed venous segments. Therefore this technique requires a high level of experience and skill in the hands of physicians skilled in laser ablation techniques, and equally good treatment results can be obtained. Foam sclerotherapy: This method is used to close the varicose veins by injecting a special substance, sclerosing agent, into the blood vessels and using the chemical stimulation of the walls of the veins by the sclerosing agent. This method can be used not only for the main trunk of the saphenous vein, but also for its superficial branches and traffic veins. Sclerotherapy can also be used to eliminate skin capillary dilation and subcutaneous reticular veins, which is a unique advantage that distinguishes it from other surgical approaches. Sclerotherapy can be accomplished under local anesthesia and is therefore often used for outpatient procedures. The foam sclerosing agent has a greater contact area with the vein lining, more uniform vascular closure and less sclerosing agent is used. Surgical procedures, when performed properly, can achieve more satisfactory results, while the surgical risks are all within a manageable range and are all relatively safe and reliable. There is no absolute superiority or inferiority between various surgical procedures, and there is no such thing as “only this is not possible”. Therefore, there is no need to be overly concerned when choosing a procedure. According to your own life rhythm and schedule, choose a reliable doctor, and use the doctor’s most professional surgery, you can achieve satisfactory results.